Voice of the people (letter).

Respect Heroes

December 13, 1999|By Eileen Mattimore.

CHICAGO — Thursday morning I saw my husband, a 20-year veteran of the Chicago Fire Department, sit with tears in his eyes watching the memorial service in Worcester, Mass., for the six firefighters killed in the line of duty. President Clinton, Vice President Gore, countless other dignitaries and tens of thousands of firefighters from across the country gathered in Worcester to honor these true heroes.

Here in Chicago the media continue their relentless barrage against the men and women who bravely serve our city. How many more times must we be subjected to the infamous videotape? Must all departmental conflicts become magnified, distorted and racially spun?

I have watched as my husband, a Lambert Tree award-winning firefighter, who used to proudly introduce himself as a member of the City of Chicago Fire Department, all too often be subjected to jokes and demeaning comments about his job. On behalf of the partners, parents and children of our firefighters, I urge the media to become more responsible in their reporting. Allow our loved ones, Chicago's true heroes, to command the respect of the people they serve.